Indonesia plans to integrate 27,000 existing government apps

Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has mandated a halt on the development of new government mobile applications, aiming to streamline and integrate the existing 27,000 apps managed by various ministries and regional administrations. This directive is part of a broader initiative to enhance public service efficiency and reduce bureaucratic complexities. Widodo highlighted the redundancy of creating new applications with each change in leadership and emphasised the importance of simplifying public service access.

At the launch of INA Digital, a platform designed to consolidate these services, Widodo noted that this integration could save significant government funds previously allocated for new app development. The INA Digital initiative is not a new application but a system intended to unify access to various government services through a single sign-in process. Although users will still need different apps for specific services, the integration aims to ease the overall user experience.

Minister of State Apparatus Utilisation and Bureaucratic Reform Abdullah Azwar Anas mentioned that INA Digital would integrate services from at least 15 ministries by September. The development of this super application is spearheaded by 400 local digital talents under GovTech Indonesia, led by Perum Peruri, in collaboration with various government entities. The project is expected to be available to the public within four months following its trial phase.

The initiative is part of a strategic move to improve digital governance and public service delivery in Indonesia, addressing efficiency and cybersecurity concerns. The country has faced significant cybersecurity threats, with a notable breach of the General Elections Commission’s database in November 2023, underscoring the urgent need for robust digital infrastructure.